Wigan murder victim named as Ellen Higginbottom

Ellen's family were concerned when she did not come home from college on Friday. Credit:

A young woman who was found dead at Orrell Water Park, Wigan, has been named as 18-year-old Ellen Higginbottom.

A post mortem found she died of multiple wounds to the neck.

Police were alerted she was missing after she did not go home from college on Friday night.

Ellen's friends told police they last knew her to have gone to Orrell Water Park. Officers searched the area before finding her body at around 2.30am yesterday.

Detective Superintendent Howard Millington, from Greater Manchester Police said officers are supporting Ellen's family. He said police are also working with the council and Winstanley College, where Ellen was a student, to support anyone affected by her death.

Detectives are still trying to piece together Ellen's movements in the hours before her death.

  • Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 7103, alternatively call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.